Frequently asked questions — DTF Transfers Australia
Short version: DTF Transfers Australia prints ready-to-press Direct-to-Film in Coorparoo, Brisbane. Standard film is Hot Insta Peel. Gang sheets are 28 cm and 58 cm. You need a heat press unless the product is labelled iron-on. Handling is typically 3–5 business days after 12:00 noon Australia/Brisbane. We print ready-to-press DTF film — we don’t sell tees, printers or powder here. Want custom printed apparel, blanks or graphic tees? Visit T Shirts Australia.
Jump to a section, or search this page. Answers below match how the shop actually works.
On this page
About DTF and this shop
Artwork and files
Ordering, prices and timing
Pressing, peel and care
Shipping, pickup and packing
If something goes wrong
About DTF and this shop
What is DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing?
DTF is a way of decorating fabric by printing your design onto film, then heat-pressing that film onto a garment. We print colour and white, apply adhesive powder, and cure it in Coorparoo. You press the ready-to-press sheet. We print ready-to-press film; we don’t print the shirt for you or sell blank tees on this site. For finished custom tees, blanks and graphic tees, go to T Shirts Australia.
Why use DTF instead of vinyl, screen print or DTG?
DTF is full colour with no weeding, works on light and dark garments because we print a white underbase, and it is practical for one-offs and small runs. Screen print still wins on huge one-colour runs. Sublimation needs light polyester. DTG prints the garment in a printer. We sell DTF film. Comparisons: DTF vs other methods.
How does DTF compare with screen printing?
Screen print needs screens and setup, then it is cheap at volume. DTF needs no screens. You pay for film area, not per colour. A twelve-shirt full-colour job is usually DTF. A 300-tee one-colour back print may still be screen.
How does DTF compare with DTG?
DTG prints ink into the shirt. DTF prints film you press later. DTF stores as film, works on more fabrics, and needs no pretreat. You still need a heat press for our standard film.
How does DTF compare with sublimation?
Sublimation dyes light polyester and has no white ink. DTF prints white and can go on cotton and darks. On a white poly tee both can work; on a black cotton hoodie you want DTF.
Who is this shop for?
Anyone who needs custom prints and has (or can use) a heat press: side hustles, embroidery and screen shops, clubs, and people pressing at home. If you only have a household iron, buy sizes labelled iron-on. We don’t sell printers, powder or tees here only ready-to-press film. Tees, blanks and full apparel printing: T Shirts Australia.
Do you sell T-shirts or blank garments?
No — this shop prints ready-to-press film only; you supply the garment. For custom printed T-shirts and apparel, blank tees, and graphic tees, go to our sister business T Shirts Australia (same Coorparoo workshop, different service).
Do you print neon, glitter, metallic, glow or other speciality films?
Yes. Neon Yellow, Green, Pink and Orange are on sale now, plus glitter, pearl, metallic, reflective and glow in the speciality range. UV DTF stickers are coming soon. We do not sell puff as a current product, and we do not sell speciality as raw film rolls.
Do you sell liquid adhesive or powderless DTF?
No. That process exists; it is not a public product here. We print powder-adhesive DTF on Hot Insta Peel. We also do not sell bags of powder or printers. Why.
Artwork and files
What file should I send?
Best: a PNG, JPEG or WebP at about 300 dpi at the size it will be pressed. Use a transparent background for PNG and WebP. Export vectors to a correctly sized transparent PNG. Maximum upload is 254 MB. RGB is fine. Do not add a white underbase — we print white in the printer. Artwork FAQ.
Do I need to mirror the artwork?
No. Send it the right way up, as you want it to read on the shirt. We handle the film orientation when we print.
Can I print photos, gradients and small type?
Yes, DTF is digital. Photos and colour-to-colour gradients print well. Fades to empty (soft drop shadows) can look harsh because there is no true transparency in the powder layer. Hairline script is risky. Soft files stay soft.
Will you fix my artwork?
We print what you send. If something is obviously unprintable we will email you. We are not a free design studio. Photopea is enough for many cleanups: prepare a PNG.
Do I get a digital proof?
Not by default. A proof on every job would slow the 3–5 business day handling we actually offer. Check your file before you pay. We will contact you if the file is clearly wrong.
Do you keep my designs for reorders?
We keep designs for 90 days. After that, upload again. Keep your own master file.
Can I send a famous logo or team badge?
Only if you own it or have a licence. You declare the art. We can refuse a file. Copyright declaration.
Ordering, prices and timing
How do I order?
Use the shop. Gang sheets: builder (28 cm or 58 cm, up to 1 metre). Cut sheets, speciality and labelled iron-on are listed by size. Upload print-ready art, check out with the payment methods shown. No setup fee.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One cut sheet or one metre of gang film is fine.
What is a gang sheet?
Several designs on one piece of film so you pay for area, not twenty tiny sheets. Public widths are 28 cm ($21.95/m) and 58 cm ($30.95/m). We do not sell 600 mm rolls. You cut them apart. Gang sheet guide.
Can I order a custom size?
We print the sizes in the shop: gangs 28/58 cm by the metre (max 1 m), seven standard cut sheets, speciality sheets, and labelled iron-on sizes. We work within those films, not a free-form millimetre for every job.
Do extra colours cost extra?
No. Price is by size or gang area, not by colour count. Full colour and white are included.
Are prices in AUD and do they include GST?
Yes. Shop prices are Australian dollars and include GST. We sell to Australia only.
What payment methods do you accept?
Use the methods shown at checkout. Do not assume a wallet or buy-now-pay-later brand is on unless it appears there.
Do you have wholesale or bulk discounts?
Volume discounts apply in the cart on film area (5 / 10 / 15 / 20%). There is no prepaid credit club and we do not sell powder wholesale.
How long until you dispatch?
Standard handling is typically 3–5 business days after the 12:00 noon Australia/Brisbane cutoff, then Australia Post or pickup. We do not promise 24-hour dispatch. Same/Next Day handling is coming soon, aimed at November–December 2026, and cannot be ordered before then. Dispatch policy.
Can I get a rush job?
Same/Next Day handling is coming soon, aimed at November–December 2026, and cannot be ordered before then. We do not promise that a job placed late in the day leaves the same afternoon. Ask admin@dtftransfers.au before you promise a customer a date.
Can I change or cancel after I order?
Email immediately with the order number. If it has not gone to print we can usually change the file or cancel. Once it is printed, it is yours. Custom film is not a change-of-mind product. Returns.
Can I get a sample first?
Yes. Request a free sample pack (one per customer) and press it on a scrap garment before a production run.
Are there setup or artwork fees?
No setup fee and no per-colour fee. You pay for the product, optional extra handling, and shipping if you are not picking up.
Pressing, peel and care
Hot peel or cold peel?
Standard production film is Insta Peel. On cotton and most fabrics, peel the carrier immediately while hot after the press dwell. On polyester, cold peel only — let the garment and transfer cool completely before peeling. Speciality listings and labelled iron-on products have their own instructions. Always follow the packing slip for that order.
What heat press settings should I use?
Use a heat press and the time, temperature and pressure on the packing slip for that order. Current Insta Peel starting points: cotton and most fabrics 160°C for 8 seconds, firm pressure, peel immediately while hot; polyester 120°C for 30 seconds, firm pressure, cold peel only. Then cover and do a 10-second second press (at 120°C on polyester). Always test on a spare garment first — heat presses and fabrics vary. Pre-press the garment so it is dry. A YouTube vinyl chart is not our film. Fitting guide and pressing tips.
Do I need a second press after peeling?
Yes — keep the second press. After you peel, cover the print and press again for 10 seconds (at 120°C on polyester). That seats the adhesive and knocks back shine. Follow the slip if it gives a time.
Can I use a household iron?
Only on products labelled iron-on, in those sizes. Gang sheets and standard cut sheets need a heat press. An EasyPress that fully covers the design counts as a small press. If the EasyPress does not fully cover the design, use a heat press that does. Always test, because presses and garments vary.
What can I press onto?
Cotton, many blends, and polyester with cooler settings. Hoodies need a longer pre-press. Test nylon, waterproof coatings and anything that might scorch. We sell film, not a guarantee on every mystery fabric.
The transfer is not sticking. Why?
Usually heat, time, pressure or moisture. Confirm platen temperature, use firm even pressure, and pre-press. On cotton and most fabrics peel hot; on polyester cool completely before peeling. If a bit stays on the film, lay it back and press again. Moisture.
It cracked or peeled after washing. Why?
Most often the press did not fully bond the adhesive, the garment was damp, or it was washed too soon. Wait 24 hours, wash inside out, cold, no bleach, air dry. See care instructions.
How durable is DTF?
A well-pressed print on a decent garment lasts through regular wear if you follow care. The care guide uses around 40 washes as a guide, not a guarantee. Bad presses fail in a few washes; good ones last with the shirt.
How do I store unused film?
Cool, dry, flat, backing on, out of bathrooms and hot cars. Press sooner rather than years later. Storage.
What about black adhesive?
Black adhesive is a standard cut-sheet option only, not a bag of powder and not on every gang sheet. Check the listing.
Shipping, pickup and packing
Where are you, and can I pick up?
Workshop and pickup: 17 Castlemaine St, Coorparoo QLD 4151. Choose local pickup at checkout. Hours Monday–Friday 9:00am–2:30pm and Saturday 9:30am–11:30am Australia/Brisbane, closed Sundays and Queensland public holidays. Phone (07) 3158 3498. Contact.
How do you ship, and how long does post take?
Australia Post Standard and Express, Australia only. Handling is 3–5 business days first, then the post service you chose. Express does not shrink handling unless you also paid extra handling.
Do you ship internationally?
No. Australia only.
Do I get tracking?
Yes, an Australia Post tracking number by email once it ships. Use the AusPost site or the tracking tools in your account when they are available.
How is film packed?
We pack transfers so they stay flat and dry. Keep them in the sleeve until you press. If a parcel looks crushed on arrival, photograph it and email us before you press.
What if the parcel is delayed or lost?
Check tracking first. If it is stuck or marked delivered and missing, email admin@dtftransfers.au with the order number. We work with Australia Post from there. Dispatch policy.
If something goes wrong
I pressed it and I am not happy. What now?
Email photos of the press setup, the packing slip, and the garment, plus what temperature/time/pressure you used. If we printed the wrong file or a defective sheet, we reprint. If the failure came from the press setup or a damp garment, that is outside a free reprint of the shirt. Returns and terms.
How do I contact you?
Email admin@dtftransfers.au or phone (07) 3158 3498 in workshop hours (Mon–Fri 9:00am–2:30pm; Sat 9:30am–11:30am Australia/Brisbane). We do not run a 24-hour live chat. Address: 17 Castlemaine St, Coorparoo QLD 4151. ABN 76 917 368 976.
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